CORNWALL, Ontario – Students are planning province wide rallies on Feb. 4 against the Ford government’s changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
In Cornwall, the rally will be taking place in front of MPP Jim McDonell’s office.
One student who plans on being at the rally is Lee Barre, a 28-year-old nursing student at St. Lawrence College. Barre said he will be affected by the changes the Ford government intends to enact this fall.
The Ford government announced a $600 million cut to student grants and a $440 million cut to universities and colleges.
Additionally, the Ford government has reduced the number of families who will be eligible for OSAP and did away with the six-month interest exemption period after graduation.
In exchange, all universities and colleges are expected to enact a 10 percent cut to their tuition.
“One thing that students are very vocal about is the removal of the grace period and the changes to how loans are applied,” said Barre.
No student will now be eligible for more grants than the amount of loans they are receiving, which means more money for students to pay back.
“I’m not happy, or dismayed,” said Barre. “I understand that things are changing.”
Barre encouraged students to come out to the rally on Feb. 4 to get as much information as possible.
